archipelago

Simbang Gabi has begun in the Philippines. This Catholic celebration kicks off Jesus’ Birthday Party in the archipelago. But don’t expect cake and ice cream for this celebration. However, food stalls are located right outside the church offering such popular Filipino favorites such as puto bumbong (sticky rice pastry), bibingka (rice cake) and salabat (ginger tea) or tsokolate (hot chocolate.)

“10 Best Places to Visit in the Philippines” consists of the results of over 30 websites that I scrutinized using four different search engines. The compilation of this Top Ten List looked at other websites and their choices for the best places to visit in the archipelago. More weight was given for picks that finished first, second and third. Each destination listed was given at least one vote. Only the Top Ten picks of each website were given consideration. The websites I covered were everything from CNN to USA Today along with international and local publications.

“Would Jesus Ride Jeepneys in the Philippines?” You can tell a guy has way too much time on his hands when he starts asking himself questions like this. However, unproductive mitts are the devil’s sweatshop. Better to keep the ol’ noggin’ working at my advanced age.

I’ve resided in the Philippines for over eight years now. Thankfully, by the grace of God I met a beautiful Filipina through a pen pal service in June of 1999. We married in January 2000 upon my first trip to the Philippines. While I occasionally might complain about the power outages, brownouts, on our island province of Guimaras, I wouldn’t trade living in “paradise” for anything. Let me present to you my “Top 5 Reasons for Moving to the Philippines.”

Wednesday, June 14, 2017 was a somber day for many Filipinos. Philippine Sen. Cynthia Villar had just called for a ban on unlimited rice servings, “unli-rice,” in restaurants across the archipelago! I was shocked, stunned and staggered! Had all the politicians in the world gone mad? Potential rice riots in the Philippines now became a distinct possibility.

“In Spite of Travel Warnings, is it Still Safe to Move to the Philippines? “ Thirty-seven people were killed in a Manila casino this past Friday. A lone masked gunman walked straight into the building, past a lone security guard who panicked when she saw the suspect’s assault rifle. The victims are thought to have died of smoke inhalation. None of them appear to have been shot.

My asawa and I retired to the Philippines almost eight years ago. We’ve dealt with a myriad of devils and demons in this Southeast Asian archipelago since our move. Chief among these terrifying creatures is the Aswang.

“More Female Pushers in Iloilo Peddling Shabu.” In Western Visayas, the region of the archipelago we call home, 34 women have been arrested for drug dealing. The bulk of females selling shabu (meth) are located on nearby Panay Island, Iloilo province.

Most of us are going to die someday. There’s not many ways to avoid it. You might consider becoming a vampire and living as an immortal (as long as you avoid direct sunlight and wooden stakes through the heart.) Or you could hang out with Shirley MacLaine and be reincarnated as a door knob. Me? I wonder. Can I be buried in our backyard in the Philippines?